After the situation was resolved between the two of them, Applejack thought it best for Rarity to stay for lunch so that they could explain what happened and to tell Granny Smith and Big Macintosh they would soon be a great grandmother and an uncle respectively. Lunch started out very quiet with no one deciding it to be in their place to draw attention to the large elephant in the room. Rarity decided it best to try and lighten the mood first, "This lunch is delicious Miss Smith."
"Thank you Rarity."
Silence resumed. After a couple more minutes of this, Applejack knew it was time, "So Granny,... ya know how Rarity and ah have always wanted to eventually start our own family?"
"Is that what the commotion was last night and this mornin'? Good gravy girl, ya darn near gave me a heart attack comin' in here and slammin' doors, but then why were ya cryin' sweety?"
"It's... complicated Granny."
"Look, ah get that yer both mares, but didn't yall talk about adoption?"
"We did talk about it, but...somethin'....happened and now we won't have to adopt", Applejack said with a bit of giddiness in her voice.
"Yall use some of that fancy sciency hooey to get one of you preggers?"
"Not science Granny, it was more like... magic."
"Magic?" Granny Smith then looked over to Rarity, "Guessin' the magic part of this is you then?"
"You would be correct, " Rarity said not looking directly at the elder mare. The tone she had used sounded a little accusatory.
"Well actually... it was sort of both of us", Applejack clarified sheepishly. "Here's what happened..."
Applejack and Rarity proceeded to explain what had occurred the previous day and this morning. When they got to the part of the letter response from Princess Celestia, Granny smith asked if Rarity could go retrieve the letter for her to look at. As Rarity excused herself to go do just that, Applejack felt it coming from the look and tone of her grandmother, but could do nothing except sit and wait in dread.
When Rarity had almost fully ascended the stairs, Granny Smith turned to Applejack and began her low volume yelling, "I'm very disappointed in you Applejack Apple."
Big Macintosh attempted to try and defend his sister, "Granny wait-"
"Hush boy." That silenced him immediately and she turned back to Applejack, "That there mare loves ya Rarity. Didn't yall promise when yall got married to trust in each other?"
"Yes mam", Applejack responded sadly. She knew that her grandmother was right.
Applejack had always had self-esteem issues since way before she had even met Rarity. Among the many scars that were left from the death of her parents, she had believed, like part of her did even to this day, that her parents had died because she was not good enough. This feeling of unworthiness inspired her to always try to be the be better, which resulted in her becoming one of the most dependable ponies in Ponyville, possibly Equestria. However, this also caused her to think the worst in many situations, more specifically when it involved her being good enough for her friends, asking for help, or her worthiness to be with Rarity. The insecurities weren't helped when she discovered for herself that she was attracted to mares instead of stallions. She heard as a child, even still did sometimes, of how unsightly and unnatural these kinds of feelings were. She felt like she didn't belong most of her life, even with the unconditional love she received from her family, her friends and now Rarity.
Granny Smith was not trying to be cruel. She knew the internal problems that still lingered in the heart of her granddaughter from the death of her children. Her stern look began to fade away, "AJ... Ah know that sometimes ya feel like ya ain't good enough. Ya think that ponies will always choose others over ya, but ah think the fact the Rarity came to comfort you and put yer doubts to rest has to show ya how much you mean to her sweety."
Applejack looked up to be met with the kinds welcoming eyes of her grandmother and smiled. "Thank you Granny", she responded just as Rarity began to descend the stairs.
Rarity walked over to the table and floated the letter top Granny Smith who then pretended to speed read it. Rarity noticed this and the much denser atmosphere and concluded that she had simply been sent away for a while so they could have a quick talk without her there. Applejack didn't look sad, rather she smiled a bit, so Rarity decided not to press the matter.
Granny Smith set the letter aside and turned her attention to the two mares, "So, what ya two gonna do now?"
Rarity responded first, "Well, we just resolved yesterday's conflict this morning so we haven't had much time to discuss this."
"Well ah think yall should handle these living situations first."
"Living situations?", Applejack inquired.
"Don't tell me yall intend to raise the child from two homes. Yall ain't divorced, not even close to it I'd wager, so there ain't no reason to."
"Well Granny we're kinda tied to this arrangement. Rarity has her business so her leavin' that to move here ain't really an option and yall still need help around here so-"
"Oh hooey. AJ we can handle ourselves just fine, plus we've been doing pretty good in the money sense. We can afford to hire some farmhands. Celestia knows that our fields are getting bigger, so it's about time we did anyways."
Big Macintosh joined in, "She right AJ, but don't worry there will always be a spot here whenever you got the time."
"Mac, Granny ah can't do that do ya guys."
"You will do it Applejack. It's time you went and had yer own family. I'll be sad that yer finally leavin' the nest, but", Granny Smith looked over to Rarity, "ah know you'll be in good hooves. 'Sides, ain't like Rarity's place is in another town. We'll be close by for the visits which ah expect to get."
"Yer sure Granny?"
"Sure as sugar."
"Mac?"
"Eeyup."
"Well, what ya think Rarity?", Applejack asked since it would be Rarity's home being invaded here.
"Well...", she though for a moment before looking around nervously. Her eyes eventually reached the clock on the wall, "Oh my goodness. Is that the time? Applejack, we were supposed to pick up the girls an hour ago."
Applejack looked at the clock, "Shoot. Yer right Rarity." She and Rarity began to clear the table rapidly, "Sorry Granny. We gotta scoot, no pun intended."
"Ah understand, just make sure you two figure this out. Sooner the better."
"We will. Thank you again for everything Mrs. Smith."
"Good luck and ah thought ah told ya Rarity, Granny is fine. Yer my granddaughter too now."
Rarity smiled, "I will definitely try and remember."
They left the house and started towards Scootaloo's place. Applejack decided started the conversation back up as they went. "Well, Rarity? What ya think about me movin' in with ya?", Applejack asked with a little bit of joy in her voice. After all, this would be the start of her family life.
Rarity kept her focus forward, not wanting to look Applejack in the eyes, "Well..."
"Well?..."
"..."
"You don't want me to?"
"It's not that Applejack. In fact I would love to wake up every morning to your beautiful face. It's just that..."
"Just that what?..."
Rarity sighed, "Applejack I love you. I know that even though we are married, we both still have some... quirks that might bother the other."
"Quirks?"
"Yes. One of those for me is that I desire cleanliness. Applejack, the boutique is my home and as such, it is my germ-free haven of cleanliness."
"Ya think I'll dirty up the place?"
"Not you per say, but rather you enjoy doing... outside activities that might cause you to become filthy. I know that you don't mind the mud or dirt and I wouldn't want you to stop doing the things you love, but... " She turned to see Applejack's head looking down, "Oh Applejack, I'm sorry."
Applejack looked up with a determined look on her face, "Nah yer right Rarity. It's yer place so it's up to you."
"Well, I suppose I could make an exception for you", Rarity said as she got closer to Applejack and nuzzled her neck, earning a small giggle from her.
"I can't let ya do that Rares... so I'll be the one to make an exception."
"Beg your pardon?"
"I swear Rarity that if you let me into yer home permanently, that ah will strive to be a clean as possible. That is until I'm outside, then all bets are off. Deal?"
With no hesitation she kissed Rarity on the cheek, "Deal."
With that settled, they continued towards Scootaloo's home, bouncing name ideas off each other as they went. When they reached the house, they approached the front door and knocked. They were greeted by a dark orange earth pony stallion with a blue name, "Hello there you two. Here to pick up the girls?"
"Yes. We are very sorry we took so long. I hope the girls were not too much trouble."
"Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, your sisters are here to pick you up!" he yelled behind him into the house before turning back to the mares, "None whatsoever."
"Applejack, Rarity!", the yell came from the two crusaders and they ran up to hug their sisters.
"Hey you two", Applejack said as she playfully noogied Apple Bloom.
"Girls, say thank you to Scootaloo's father for putting up with-er I mean taking care of you."
"Thank you for taking care of us", both fillies said in unison.
"Anytime. It was a pleasure Have a nice day."
"You too."
As they headed home, Sweetie Belle asked, "So Rarity, anything new happen?"
"You could say that. Sweetie how would like to be an aunt?"
With eyes gaping wide, Sweetie Belle screamed, "Oh my gosh! I'm gonna an aunt! Yay!"
Apple Bloom looked just as exited but skeptical, "Wait, Miss Cheerilee said it took a mare and a stallion to make babies."
"I'll explain it to ya at home AB."
"As will I to you Sweetie Belle."
They eventually reached the point where they would have to go their separate ways. "I'll come by tomorrow to talk about the... livin' arrangements Rarity. "
"Excellent."
With that, they kissed, earning an ignored gag from their sisters, and left for their respective homes. Each leaving with the knowledge that someday soon, not only would they not have to leave each other to go home, but also they would have children of their own to love and adore. They would be a family very soon.